MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called up one lawmaker to make early insertions in the proposed national budget for 2026.
The senator on Sunday said a caller claiming to be "Undersecretary Cabral" from DPWH called up a staff member of Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III shortly after the May 2025 senatorial elections.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://gyglfs.com
"One 'Undersecretary Cabral' called Sotto's staff and told them to insert what they wanted to insert [in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026]," Lacson said in a radio interview.
"If Sen. Sotto was one of those called by that executive, who else could have been contacted similarly and submitted their proposed insertions?" he said in Filipino.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"Senator Sotto told me he did not submit anything because we are advocating transparency and good governance. The question now is, how many members of the House and Senate made insertions?" Lacson added.
- Legarda pushes Magna Carta of Waste Workers
- Social media erupts: Politicians' children face backlash for flaunting wealth
- Pagasa monitors 2 LPAs inside PAR; prevailing 'habagat' brings rain across PH
- Pagasa sees cyclone-free week across PH
- Putin vows not to back down in Ukraine
- 'Pink and green' protests call for a reset in Indonesia
- China criticizes Canadian, Australian warships transiting Taiwan Strait
- Nartatez to reassign Torre if he won't retire, says they're 'okay'
- Navotas inks deal for school feeding project
- Japan accelerates missile deployment amid rising regional tensions
